Primer Pocket Go/No-Go Gauges & Case Mount Tension

[b2lee]

I ordered some gauges on a recommendation from a friend that is more OCD than I am when it comes to re-loading. Arriving today were some tools from Ballistic Tools.

I received a Small and large primer pocket gauge tool. Also a case mouth and neck tension gauge. It was a 3 bundle deal that seemed pretty low in price to me. Quality seems to be precise with some good aggressive knurling. The primer pocket go gauges seem to fit nice and snug into known good pockets. They won't fit into a military crimp pocket...and if the primer pocket is too big...the no-go gauge will go in.

Here is a Large Go gauge in a known good 308:

Here is the same brass with a no-go gauge:

If the tool was to go into the primer pocket, you know it is too large and brass needs to be tossed. This particular piece was very far away from being loose.

Below is the case mouth gauge:

As you can see, there are lines engraved on the the tool and they line up with the chart underneath telling you how large your case mouth opening is. I did check these with a mic and found them to be correct to 4 decimal places. One end is 30cal the other end is .22 cal.

I bought all three tools for $29.99 bundled.....your price may vary upon when you see this. I think for the price it is an excellent tool. Since I shoot 300PRC and we are temporarily stuck with Hornady soft brass...it is a good tool to check upon every reload....after deprime...and well before I spend time and effort prepping the brass through the other stages. It is also great to check how much spring back you are experiencing when you size the necks...and when you may need to anneal.

I hope this is helpful to someone.

 

[TripleBull]

Cool. I'm a measurement nerd. I use the Whidden base-to-datum gauges because they are so fast, reproducible and easy:

Case Gauge - Whidden Gunworks

Use the chart below to reference the other compatible calibers for each gauge. If you don’t see the Case Gauge you need, we can custom build you one with your supplied Go Gauge. Select the "Custom" option in the drop down menu and follow the instructions. Attention: The Belted Magnum Family...

www.whiddengunworks.com

I'd love to have a 3-D optical profilometer that would give accurate dimensions of a case or loaded round.

 

[Gatorshark]

I have a set of the primer pocket go-no-go gauges. Very worthwhile tool to have; especially when dealing with mixed 223 range brass.

 

[whatsupdoc]

I ordered some gauges on a recommendation from a friend that is more OCD than I am when it comes to re-loading. Arriving today were some tools from Ballistic Tools.



I received a Small and large primer pocket gauge tool. Also a case mouth and neck tension gauge. It was a 3 bundle deal that seemed pretty low in price to me. Quality seems to be precise with some good aggressive knurling. The primer pocket go gauges seem to fit nice and snug into known good pockets. They won't fit into a military crimp pocket...and if the primer pocket is too big...the no-go gauge will go in.

Here is a Large Go gauge in a known good 308:



Here is the same brass with a no-go gauge:



If the tool was to go into the primer pocket, you know it is too large and brass needs to be tossed. This particular piece was very far away from being loose.

Below is the case mouth gauge:



As you can see, there are lines engraved on the the tool and they line up with the chart underneath telling you how large your case mouth opening is. I did check these with a mic and found them to be correct to 4 decimal places. One end is 30cal the other end is .22 cal.

I bought all three tools for $29.99 bundled.....your price may vary upon when you see this. I think for the price it is an excellent tool. Since I shoot 300PRC and we are temporarily stuck with Hornady soft brass...it is a good tool to check upon every reload....after deprime...and well before I spend time and effort prepping the brass through the other stages. It is also great to check how much spring back you are experiencing when you size the necks...and when you may need to anneal.

I hope this is helpful to someone.

Out of curiosity can you measure the large primer pocket gage and post the dimensions of the go and no go pins.

 

[b2lee]

Small Primer Pocket Gauge: 0.173 on one end. 0.1745 on the other
Large Primer Pocket Gauge: 0.2085 on one end. 0.2105 on the other end.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Thanks I only check large primer brass for loose primers using a -.210 pin gage. just wondered what number they used.

 

[spife7980]

Saami small rifle pocket spec is .173-.1745, Large rifle pocket is .2085-.2100
Looks like the tool is a pretty good match.

 

[LoanHarvey]

Looks like we had the same idea, mine arrived today as well!!

 

[Steel head]

 

[b2lee]

Meh-owww.... Not your thing huh kitty?

 

[flyright]

I've found the primer pocket tool to be very accurate. It's saved me from priming some worn out brass after the pockets grew during load development.

 

[7mMike]

I’ve had this same set for a while now, and I think it’s a good buy.

 

[memilanuk]

I got one of those for my .223 stuff on a lark a while back.

TBH, the neck gauge thing is kinda worthless to me. The steps are so far apart they don't really help. A set of inexpensive pin gauges in 0.001" increments (or 0.0005" increments if you really want to be dead-nuts) works *way* better.

 

[axarob44]

I've been using these for awhile no. No more prepping brass only to find out the pocket is shot out. I check the pocket after separate de priming

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

I found these to very helpful in going through range brass. Keeps me from loading up loose primer pocket brass.

 

[b2lee]

Used the tool on 67 pieces of Hornady 300PRC brass today. I lost 3 more due to enlarged primer pockets. The afflicted were 9x fired. Load on them were 78.5 grains of N565 and 225gr ELD-M's.

 

[racso]

what should be the gauge tolerance?

 

[racso]

Small Primer Pocket Gauge: 0.173 on one end. 0.1745 on the other
Large Primer Pocket Gauge: 0.2085 on one end. 0.2105 on the other end.

what should be the gauge tolerance

 

[b2lee]

what should be the gauge tolerance

If the big end goes into the primer pocket without force...then don't use the brass....throw it in the bucket....that's the tolerance...heh

 

[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]

Wish I had known about these before!
Have a pile of range brass with primers halfway in, even after reaming the pockets.
A set inbound.

Thanks

 

[ChrisGarrett]

I just use a Sinclair pocket uniformer and if they seat loosely, then I pitch the brass.

I’d rather spend the time on shooting, rather than measuring the Nth parameters.

Chris